Integrating Cloud Solutions With Existing IT Infrastructure

Cloud services come with several benefits for business owners, such as reduced hardware costs and increased scalability. Cloud technologies also allow employees to access data while in the field or working remotely, enhancing productivity.

Although many businesses want to take advantage of these benefits, transitioning to cloud-based systems presents a challenge for business owners who wish to keep their existing systems. Discover how to integrate cloud solutions with existing IT infrastructure in a logical, cost-effective way.

The Convergence of Cloud and Legacy Systems

Cloud integration makes it possible to connect multiple sources of data, which has several benefits:

• Data visibility: Many companies use big data analytics to make decisions. Cloud integration eliminates data silos, making it easier for users to engage in data sharing, data transformation, and seamless data exchange.
• Reduced costs: Cloud services eliminate the need to purchase additional IT equipment, resulting in substantial cost savings for companies of all sizes.
• Scalability: Integrating cloud services with existing systems also enhances scalability. As your business needs change, you can leverage or extend existing cloud solutions or utilize entirely new ones instead of starting from scratch.
• Flexibility: Cloud computing is extremely flexible, as you get to create your own policies and procedures related to data storage, data security and data integration. You can also restrict access according to each user’s role, making it easier to manage sensitive data.
• Accessibility: With cloud services, it’s possible to access business data from a home office or mobile device, increasing accessibility. Cloud services also make it easier for employees from multiple departments to access the same data, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

In today’s IT landscape, cloud integration is extremely important because it increases efficiency and enhances collaboration. If your company is using outdated on-premises systems, there’s a good chance users can’t find the data they need without conducting many searches or worrying about duplicate records. Cloud integration platforms eliminate these concerns, leaving employees with more time for other activities. Users in multiple departments can also access the same data, enabling cross-collaboration.

Despite its advantages, cloud integration does have some challenges. For example, increased accessibility may lead to an increased risk of attacks, so you need to implement robust security measures. High network latency is also a concern, as it slows down the transmission of data from one network component to another. Some companies use hybrid cloud solutions to overcome latency issues. Finally, you need a way to preserve data quality while increasing accessibility and usability.

Cloud computing is complex, so it’s important to work with an integration partner you can trust. EIRE Systems has extensive experience managing cloud-based and on-premises solutions, giving you extra peace of mind as you begin the integration process. We can help you select the right cloud applications, determine whether to use a private or public solution and advise you on the best way to integrate cloud services with your existing IT infrastructure.

Assessing Your Existing IT Infrastructure

Before you transition to cloud computing, you need to conduct a thorough infrastructure assessment, which involves identifying your current IT systems and assessing their advantages and disadvantages. When you conduct an infrastructure assessment, you need to evaluate these factors:

• Hardware: What type of hardware do you already have? This includes CPUs, monitors, keyboards and physical storage media.
• Software: What software solutions do your employees use to complete assigned tasks? Include software for accounting, finance, human resources and other critical areas of business operations.

Developing a Cloud Integration Strategy

When transitioning to cloud environments, at minimum, your plan should include these steps:

1. Planning/design: Assess your current infrastructure, define your system requirements and determine what data you need employees to share.
2. Implementation and QA: During this step, you can design your API or install APIs created by other companies. It’s also important to test cloud platforms before relying on them for critical business processes.
3. Performance monitoring: Once you install cloud integration solutions, you need to monitor them closely. Regular monitoring makes it easier to identify new challenges and find ways to overcome them.
4. Scaling: With the right cloud integration platform, you can add new applications whenever needed. Once you complete the initial installation process, look for opportunities to add different cloud services as your company’s needs change.

You also need to choose the right integration approach for your business. Lift-and-shift migrates a copy of an application from an on-premises system to a cloud-based system. Replatforming is a little different, as it upgrades an application so it works on a public or private cloud. Refactoring modifies existing applications to make them more compatible with cloud environments.

It’s important to align your cloud migration strategy with your business goals. For example, if your goal is to transition to the cloud as quickly as possible, lift-and-shift is probably the best option, as you don’t have to make any changes to existing applications.

Choosing the Right Cloud Solutions

When selecting a cloud provider, consider cost, scalability, security and compliance. Examine your company’s data management and storage budget to determine how much you can spend before you search for cloud service providers. You also need a provider capable of offering additional solutions as your business grows.

Security and compliance are two of the most important considerations, as you need to prevent unauthorized access to confidential data. Review cloud providers carefully to ensure the one you choose can help you keep your data safe.

You also need to choose one of the following cloud service models:

• IaaS: Infrastructure-as-a-service gives you networking, storage and computing resources on demand. You pay for these services as you go, making IaaS extremely cost-effective.
• PaaS: Platform-as-a-service allows you to create a cloud-based development and deployment environment.
• SaaS: Software-as-a-service lets businesses connect to cloud applications via the Internet.

Overcoming Common Integration Challenges

Cloud integration is beneficial, but you should be prepared for common challenges. During data migration, there’s always a concern you’ll lose critical data or end up with duplicate data from your legacy systems. In some cases, cloud compatibility issues complicate process integration, which is why it’s so important to conduct an infrastructure assessment before integrating systems.

When you transition to cloud-based services, you must also consider the risk of a data breach. If the API you use doesn’t have updated security features, outsiders could access confidential data, leaving your business vulnerable to additional threats.

To minimize these issues, make sure to complete an infrastructure assessment before beginning the integration process. You can also mitigate security risks by choosing a reputable cloud provider and using secure APIs.

Maximizing the Benefits of Cloud Integration

Integrating multiple cloud services with your existing infrastructure helps you save money on hardware, scale your business faster and respond quickly to changing market conditions. As a result, cloud integration also enhances agility and innovation.

Seeking significant cost reductions, a US-based food industry client strategically partnered with EIRE Systems to overhaul their IT infrastructure. The company achieved millions in IT savings by adopting a hybrid model while streamlining operations. This case study demonstrates how EIRE Systems’ strategic cloud migration transformed a food industry client’s IT infrastructure, delivering:

• Reduced Risk: Mitigated the impact of potential disasters and downtime.
• Improved Productivity: Modern tools and enhanced accessibility streamlined operations.
• Cost Efficiency: Optimized IT spending with scalable cloud solutions.

Ensuring Security and Compliance in a Hybrid IT Environment

As noted previously, cloud integration may raise a few security concerns, such as an increased risk of data breaches. You also need to consider how using emerging technologies will likely affect regulatory compliance activities.

For example, healthcare organizations must comply with the privacy rules outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). If your company collects data from or targets European Union customers, you must also comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Navigate Cloud Integration With Confidence

Overall, cloud integration makes it possible to reduce costs, enhance collaboration, and scale quickly as your company’s needs change. However, you need an IT concierge to provide expert guidance. EIRE Systems is the most trusted partner for organizations seeking to integrate cloud solutions effectively and securely. Contact us today to find out how we can help you take advantage of the many benefits of cloud computing.